Guerrilla Ceilidh started life on the festival circuit in 2013. Since then we have evolved into a professional ceilidh band for public events, weddings, birthdays, and private celebrations, who can still occasionally be found ambushing festival-goers with our pop-up dances. We combine the boisterous energy of a festival with the warmth of a traditional tune session in your favourite pub, and add over a decade of experience playing professionally together.
We have played for every size and style of ceilidh from small groups to gigantic parties to sellout gigs. Lauren Spiceley and Giles Lewin bring the tunes on fiddles and other melody instruments, John Ruddock drives the rhythm on guitar, Tom Green adds irresistible groove on trombone, while Steph West gets everyone dancing as our regular caller. We all live in Oxford, and you’re just as likely to find us in a local folk session as on a summer festival stage, providing exciting and energetic ceilidh dancing throughout Oxfordshire and beyond.
Our Ceilidh Package
Four fantastic musicians bonded by their love of folk music and years of playing music together
Dedicated ceilidh caller (the one who tells you what to do) used to calling for everyone from the muddy-wellied festival wanderers to the flat-pumped veterans of the folk dance scene
Excellent sound and visuals with our in-house sound engineer, PA, and lighting
We are always happy to share our experience and to talk through your event to help you plan your shindig
Public liability insurance via the Musician’s Union and via community dance organisation People Dancing
PAT-certified equipment
A tailored quote for your event
Examples of event-specific tailoring might include:
Use of our speakers for your own playlist
Live music earlier in the daytime
Early setup in venues with just one room (this allows the dancing room be used for something else directly before the ceilidh)
Our sound engineer and equipment being used by other acts
Specific dance, tune, or song requests
Here’s an example ceilidh schedule:
7.00pm Arrive to set up
8.00pm First set of dancing!
8.45pm Break (for catching breath and filling glasses)
9.15pm Second set of dancing!
10.00pm Finish
We adapt our schedule for every event, talk to us about what you have in mind!
Reviews & Testimonials
About our regular ceilidhs:
"Guerrilla Ceilidh are an absolute blast and very welcome addition to our festival. Whenever you least expect, there they are getting people up for an impromptu dance. Brilliant fun!"
Catherine Burke - Director, Purbeck Folk Festival
"Guerrilla Ceilidh were absolutely fantastic when they played at our wedding. They played two packed sets of ceilidh tunes and got all of our guests dancing; everyone was flying around having a great time. The band and caller were fantastic!"
A Happy Couple
About our festival “specials” -
"Well naturally everyone should be made to enjoy Folk Dancing, what's wrong with that?
Guerrilla Ceilidh make you enjoy it by being surprising. And even surprisingly good..."
Steve Henwood - Bath Fringe, Glastonbury Festival
"Unhinged... I'll NEVER forget it. "
Eliza Carthy
Want to know more?
Fill in our contact form and make an enquiry with us here: